Food processor comprising a sifter device

ABSTRACT

In a food processor ( 1 ) with a drivable apparatus part ( 17 ) provided for interacting with a material which is to be processed and with driving means ( 9 ) for driving the drivable apparatus part ( 17 ), said driving means ( 9 ) comprising at least one driving part ( 11,12,13,14,15 ), either a driving part ( 11,12,13,14,15 ) of the driving means ( 9 ) or the drivable apparatus part ( 17 ) is used for driving a sifter device ( 27 ).

[0001] The invention relates to a food processor with at least onedrivable apparatus part provided so as to interact with a material to beprocessed, such as a stirring unit or a kneading device or a mixingbowl, and with driving means for driving the apparatus part, saiddriving means comprising a motor and at least one transmission partprovided between the motor and the apparatus part, and a sifter devicewhich can be driven by the motor.

[0002] Such a food processor is known from Patent Document U.S. Pat. No.2,710,098. With the known food processor, a separate additionaltransmission device is provided for driving the sifter device or fordriving the stirring tool contained in the sifter device, which isprovided in addition to the main transmission part provided between themotor of the food processor and a mixing tool of the food processor. Theprovision of such an additional transmission device represents aconsiderable expenditure and leads to a relatively great constructionalheight and size of such a food processor as well as to an increase inthe price of such a food processor.

[0003] It is an object of the invention to avoid the situation describedabove and to provide an improved food processor.

[0004] To achieve this object, features according to the invention areprovided in a food processor according to the invention such that a foodprocessor according to the invention can be characterized as follows:

[0005] A food processor with at least one drivable apparatus partprovided so as to interact with a material to be processed, whichapparatus part forms part of the food processor, and with driving meansfor driving the at least one drivable apparatus part, said driving meanscomprising a motor and at least one transmission part between the motorand the at least one drivable apparatus part, which transmission partalso forms part of the food processor, and with a sifter device capableof being driven by the motor, wherein from the at least one transmissionpart and the at least one apparatus part at least one of these parts ofthe food processor being provided and designed for driving the sifterdevice.

[0006] The features according to the invention render it possible toprovide a reliable drive for the sifter device of a food processoraccording to the invention in a constructionally very simple andspace-saving manner and with very little extra effort and expenditure.The substantial advantage is achieved here that driving of the sifterdevice is achieved with means which are present in the food processoranyway, so that absolutely no additional components are required fordriving a sifter device in the most favorable case.

[0007] With a food processor according to the invention, it has provedto be advantageous if, in addition, the features according to claim 2are provided. Such a solution has proved advantageous in respect of thesimplest possible constructional realization and a reliable drive of thesifter device.

[0008] With a food processor according to the invention as described inthe preceding paragraph, it has proved to be particularly advantageousif, in addition, the features according to claim 3 are provided. Thisachieves the situation in which the sifter device of a food processoraccording to the invention can be given different operational movementsand vibratory movements in a simple manner, and specifically in that thedisk mounted on the drive shaft of the food processing tool hasdifferent design shapes.

[0009] In connection with the foregoing, it has proved particularlyadvantageous if the disk is formed by an eccentric disk. Such aneccentric disk may be circular, but also ellipsoidal. It may, however,also have a different shape. Mention may further be made of the factthat such a disk mounted on the drive shaft of a food processing toolmay also take the form of a circular disk and may be arranged coaxiallywith the drive shaft of the food processor, and may feature within itscircumference range at least one cam-shaped projection which is providedfor driving a driving arm of the sifter device.

[0010] With a food processor according to the invention, however, it hasalso proved to be of advantage if the features according to claim 5 areadditionally provided. Such a solution also provides the advantage that,if desired, a plurality of different operational movements or vibratorymovements for the sifter device can be realized in a simple manner.

[0011] With a food processor as described in the preceding paragraph, ithas proved to be particularly advantageous if, in addition, the featuresaccording to claim 6 are provided. Such a solution provides theadvantage that no separate driving means are required on the foodcontainer for driving the sifter device.

[0012] With a food processor according to the invention, it has furtherproved to be advantageous if the sifter device being designed to beremovable from the food processor. Such a solution provides theadvantage in particular that the sifter device can be cleaned simply andthoroughly.

[0013] These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from andwill be elucidated with reference to the embodiments describedhereinafter.

[0014] The invention will be described in further detail with referenceto three embodiments shown in the drawings, but the invention is notrestricted to these.

[0015]FIG. 1 shows, in a first side elevation, a food processor in afirst embodiment of the invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a second side elevation showing the food processor ofFIG. 1.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a plan view of part of the food processor according toclaims 1 and 2.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the food processor accordingto claims 1 and 3.

[0019]FIG. 5 is an oblique view from above of part of the food processorin a second embodiment of the invention.

[0020]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the part shown in FIG. 5 ofthe food processor of FIG. 5.

[0021]FIG. 7 shows, in an analogous manner to FIG. 4, a food processorin a third embodiment of the invention.

[0022]FIG. 8 shows part of the food processor of FIG. 7 in plan view.

[0023] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a food processor 1. The food processor 1consists of a base part 2, which on the one hand consists of atower-shaped part 3 and a plate-shaped part 4. A cup-shaped retainingpart 6 is connected to the tower-shaped part 3 by means of a pivotconnection 5. The retaining part 6 is intended to accommodate aso-termed hand mixer 7, which therefore forms a constituent part of thefood processor 1. The hand mixer 7 can be placed into the cup-shapedretaining part 6 and can be secured to the cup-shaped retaining part 6,a principle which has long been known per se.

[0024] The hand mixer 7 features a housing 8. Provided in the housing 8are driving means, as can be seen from FIG. 4. The driving means 9comprising a motor 10 by which a driving worm 11 can be driven. Two wormwheels 12 and 13 engage with the driving worm 11. Connected to each wormwheel 12 and 13 is a respective driving sleeve 14 and 15.

[0025] The driving means 9 described above are provided for driving tworotating drivable apparatus parts 16 and 17 which are capable of beingdriven into rotation. Said two apparatus parts 16 and 17 are stirringand mixing tools which are provided for interacting with a material tobe processed. The two apparatus parts 16 and 17 each form part of thefood processor. Likewise, the driving parts of the driving means 9, i.e.the driving worm 11, the two worm wheels 12 and 13, and the two drivingsleeves 14 and 15 also each form part of the food processor. The tworotating drivable apparatus parts 16 and 17, which are rotating drivablefood processing tools, each have a respective driving shaft 18 and 19and a respective bar 20 and 21 connected to the respective driving shaft18 and 19, by means of which the material under treatment, i.e. afoodstuff, can be processed.

[0026] The food processor 1 further comprises a food container 22 whichcan be set on the plate-shaped part 4 of the base part 2. In the presentcase, the food container 22 remains stationary. The food container 22consists essentially of a base wall 23 and a circumferential wall 24projecting from the base wall 23 and merging in its area adjacent to thebase wall 23 into an annular support wall 25 with which the foodcontainer 22 can be placed on the plate-shaped part 4. In its arearemote from the base wall 23, the circumferential wall 24 merges into acontainer edge 26.

[0027] The food processor 1 of FIGS. 1 to 4 further comprises a sifterdevice 27. The sifter device 27 can be driven by the motor 10. Thesifter device 27 consists of a frame 28 and a screen 29 connected to theframe. The sifter device 27 has a handle 30 with which the sifter device27 can be easily manipulated. The sifter device 27 is provided with ahook 31 by means of which the sifter device 27 can be hooked into asection 32 of the cup-shaped retaining part 6. This achieves that thesifter device 27 can be removed from the food processor 1.

[0028] With the food processor 1 of FIGS. 1 to 4, the second rotatingdrivable apparatus part 17 is provided with driving means 33 for thesifter device 27. In addition, the sifter device 27 is provided withcounter-driving means 34, said counter-driving means 34 being providedto interact with the driving means 33 of the second apparatus part 17.In this situation, the driving means 33 are formed by a disk 33 locatedon the driving shaft 19 of the second apparatus part 17, said disk 33being designed to create a reciprocating movement of the sifter device27. The disk 33 is an eccentric disk 33 of circular shape here and isarranged eccentrically in relation to the driving shaft 19.

[0029] The counter-driving means 34 of the sifter device 27 being formedby a driving arm 34 extending from the sifter device 27, i.e. from theframe 28 of the sifter device 27. The driving arm 34 in this case isdesigned to run obliquely to the frame 28 and has a free end 35 runningparallel to the driving shaft 19, said free end interacting with theeccentric disk 33.

[0030] The eccentric disk 33 and the driving arm 34 can set the sifterdevice 27 into a reciprocating, i.e. vibratory motion, as a result ofwhich the material contained in the screen 29, for example flour orsugar or the like, is subjected to a vibratory or shaking motion, sothat the material contained in the sifter device 27 can be sifted intothe food container 22 when the food processor 1 is set into operation,i.e. when the motor 10 is switched on.

[0031]FIGS. 5 and 6 show a further food processor 1 according to theinvention. The food processor 1 of FIGS. 5 and 6 is substantiallydifferent from the food processor 1 of FIGS. 1 to 4, specifically inthat the foodstuff container 22 of the food processor 1 of FIGS. 5 and 6is rotatably mounted on the plate-shaped part 4, and that the foodcontainer 22 is rotatably driven, i.e. forms a rotatably-driven tool forinteracting with a material to be processed. The drive of the rotatablymounted food container 22 is realized with the food processor 1 of FIGS.5 and 6 such that an intermediate transmission element is provided inthe cup-shaped retaining part 6, which element can be driven by thedriving means of a hand mixer which can be placed in the cup-shapedretaining part 6, said intermediate transmission element not being shownin FIGS. 5 and 6. This intermediate transmission element forms part ofthe driving means of the food processor 1. Such a design has long beenknown. The intermediate transmission element contained in the cup-shapedretaining part 6 comprises a toothed drive wheel projecting from thecup-shaped retaining part 6 at the base side and engaging with a drivinggear 40 provided on the food container 22.

[0032] In the food processor 1 of FIGS. 5 and 6, the food container 22is provided with driving means 40 for the sifter device 27, and,specifically, the driving means 40 for the food container 22 is formedby the driving gear 40 by which the food container 22 can be driven intorotation.

[0033] The sifter device 27 is provided with a counter-driving means 41for interacting with the driving gear 40, and the sifter device 27 herehas a driving arm 41 designed to interact with the driving gear 40 andprojecting from the frame 28 of the sifter device 27 in the direction ofthe plate-shaped part 4.

[0034] The pin-shaped driving arm 41 and the driving gear 40 generate avibratory motion when the food processor 1 is switched on andconsequently the motor of the hand mixer (not shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) isoperating, as a result of which a material contained in the sifterdevice 27 is subjected to a sifting process and the sifted materialaccordingly passes into the food container 22.

[0035]FIGS. 7 and 8 show a further food processor 1 which has a designsimilar to the design of the food processor 1 of FIGS. 1 to 4. The foodprocessor of FIGS. 7 and 8 have a design in which the sifter device 27being drivable by the second rotating drivable apparatus part 19. Withthe food processor 1 of FIGS. 7 and 8, the two rotating drivableapparatus parts 16 and 17 each have two pinched tags 50 and 51 in thearea of their driving shafts 18 and 19. The two pinched tags 51 on thedriving shaft 19 of the second rotating drivable apparatus parts 17 areused for driving the sifter device 27 in the food processor 1 of FIGS. 7and 8. The two pinched tags 51 accordingly form driving means 51 fordriving the sifter device 27. In this case, the sifter device 27 has apin 52, projecting sideways from the frame 28 of the sifter device 27,said pin 52 here forming the counter-driving means 52 of the sifterdevice 27, and said pin 52 projecting with its free end into themovement path of the two pinched tags 51. The result of this is that,when the two rotating drivable apparatus parts 16 and 17 are driven avibratory or impacting drive of the sifter device 27 is effected by thetwo pinched tags 51 of the second rotating drivable apparatus part 17.

[0036] In the food processors 1 described above, the drive of theindividual sifter device 27 is effected in each case by a rotary driventool, said rotary driven tool being provided so as to interact with amaterial which is to be processed. According to the invention, however,other embodiments are also possible, which are not reproduced here indrawings. Such an embodiment is described below.

[0037] In a modification of the food processor of FIGS. 5 and 6, with anintermediate transmission element in the cup-shaped retaining part 6, anembodiment may alternatively be realized in which a drivabletransmission part of the intermediate transmission element, stillcontained in the cup-shaped retaining part 6, is additionally used fordriving a sifter device. In this case, the drive of the sifter device isnot effected by a drivable tool provided for interacting with a materialto be processed, but by a transmission element of the food processorprovided for driving such a tool. In this case the advantage is alsoobtained that no separate driving means are required for driving thesifter device of the food processor, but that it is possible for thesifter device to be driven with a transmission element of the drivingmeans which is present anyway.

1. A food processor (1) with at least one drivable apparatus part(17;22) provided so as to interact with a material to be processed,which apparatus part forms part of the food processor, and with drivingmeans (9) for driving the at least one drivable apparatus part (17;22)said driving means (9) comprising a motor (10) and at least onetransmission part (11,12,13,14,15) provided between the motor (10) andthe at least one drivable apparatus part (17;22), which transmissionpart also forms part of the food processor, and with a sifter device(27) capable of being driven by the motor (10), wherein from the atleast one transmission part (11,12,13,14,15) and the at least oneapparatus part (17;22) at least one of these parts of the food processor(11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17:22) being provided and designed for driving thesifter device (27).
 2. A food processor (1) as claimed in claim 1,wherein a rotating drivable food processing tool (17) being provided asrotating drivable apparatus part (17), and wherein the food processingtool (17) being provided with at least one driving means (33;51) for thedriving sifter device (27), and wherein the sifter device (27) isprovided with a counter-driving element (34;52) for interacting with thedriving means (33;51) of the food processing tool (17).
 3. A foodprocessor (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the food processing tool(17) has a drive shaft (19), and the driving means (33) of the foodprocessing tool (17) being formed by a disk (33) mounted on the driveshaft (19), which disk (33) is designed to create a reciprocating motionof the sifter device (27), and with which disk (33) a driving arm (34)projecting from the sifter device (27) interacts, said driving arm (34)forming the counter-driving means (34) of the sifter device (27).
 4. Afood processor (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the disk (33) isformed by an eccentric disk (33).
 5. A food processor (1) as claimed inclaim 1, wherein a rotating drivable food container (22) being providedas rotating drivable apparatus part (22) and wherein the food container(22) being provided with driving means (40) for driving the sifterdevice (27), and wherein the sifter device (27) being provided with acounter-driving means (41) for interacting with the driving means (40)of the food container (22).
 6. A food processor (1) as claimed in claim5, wherein the driving means (40) of the food container (22) beingformed-by a driving gear (40) of the food container (22), by means ofwhich the food container (22) can be rotatably driven, and wherein thesifter device (27) has a driving arm (41) provided for interacting withthe driving gear (40), said driving arm (41) forming the counter-drivingmeans (41) of the sifter device (27).
 7. A food processor (1) as claimedin claim 1, wherein the sifter device (27) being designed to beremovable from the food processor (1).